Handling Kim With Kid Gloves

[First published june 23, 2005] Robert Marquant has a fasinating article in The Christian Science Monitor (No link available) on”Tips for Proper Disposal of ‘Dear Leader’s’ Photo.

He says.

In Pyongyang, the rules are very specific about how physically to handle the Kim image.

No one is permitted to point casually at a portrait of Kim Jong II or his father, Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea. [RJR: he didn’t found North Korea, Stalin did and watchfully handed it over to Kim Il Sung to rule] If you find yourself holding a book with a picture of a Kim on the cover, you’d best carry it with two hands, face up, in a dignified manner. And no thumb or fingers are ever allowed to touch or cover Kim’s face.

The image and name of the Kims are deeply Ingrained as the sacred goods of North Korea, and a special etiquette has evolved in dealing with them. Rules exist for handling, carrying, hanging and, even. disposing of Kim faces and portraits. There also are rituals for their printed names.

It is all part of a culture of propaganda designed to ensure permanent collective devotion among the North Korean people. No portrait of Dear Leader or Great Leader is to be folded. No newspaper issued on the birthday of Kim Jong Il or his father, when the photo Is likely to be a full page, should be covered or used to wrap anything. Onc a newspaper with a major photo of Kim is old or worn out, it may not be tossed out, but must be brought to a special collection point where the image Is properly discarded

A few years ago, prior to a special festival attended by many foreigners a special 100‑note currency was issued, using the Kim II Sung face.

But it was quickly withdrawn from circulation after it was discovered that foreigners were casually folding the bills and putting them In wallets placed next to the derrière.

In writing about Kim, the name or character may not be casually deleted. In fact the editing of journals and books inostly still takes place on paper. Journalists and writers must not remove Kim’s name from a sentence by crossing it out. Instead, the name must be circled, and only then removed.

And in published material, direct quotes by Kim or his father should always appear in a manner similar to how many Bible publishers treat the words of New Testament figures in — in bold or illuminated type.

This would be pathetic were it not for the deadly consequences of disobeying these rules, and that this tyrant so treated with respect and honor exceeding that of the great emperors and kings of history is a megamurderer.

Link of Note

The United States is to donate 50,000 tonnes of food aid to North Korea amid growing fears of a new famine.
U.S. officials say the move is a humanitarian gesture and not intended to lure Kim Jong-il’s regime back to stalled six-party talks on the North’s nuclear program. . . . The US supplied 50,000 tonnes of food aid to North Korea last year and 100,000 tonnes the year before, making it one of the largest single providers of aid to the country. The other main donors are the European Union and South Korea.